Traditional Irish Spice Cake Recipe

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: In Ireland, spiced cakes, gingerbreads, and quick breads are extremely popular. Being a nation of tea drinkers, a spice cake goes down a treat at tea time. As a baker who has been making cakes like this my entire life, I always suggest making them the day before to enhance the flavor and ensure a moister cake. A great baker’s tip I learned is to cover the cake with foil when it comes out of the oven so that as it cools, it traps moisture and gives the cake a lovely soft, almost sticky top.

This exquisite Traditional Irish Spice Cake will become your treasured secret recipe you’ll lovingly prepare for holidays, family dinners, and bake sales: 

• Moist & Flavorful: Single-layer cake with a fine crumb, moist texture, and soft, almost sticky top.
• Perfectly Spiced: Apple flavor beautifully complemented by cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Simple Elegance: Dust with powdered sugar—no fancy decorations needed.
• Tea Time Favorite: Ideal to enjoy with a cup of tea, for holidays, family dinners, or bake sales.

Scrumptious but straightforward desserts like this have a way of bringing up wonderfully nostalgic feelings with each forkful. And although I love a special, decadent treat with loads of chocolate or buttercream, a slice of Traditional Irish Spice Cake and a mug of tea is a comforting everyday indulgence that brings you back to simpler times!

Bold Bakers Loved This!

“This is amazing, brings back so many memories!” — Bridget

“This was delish. I made them into 16 cupcakes and frosted them with cream cheese frosting. The apple makes it really moist!  Several days later they are still moist and tender. They are still yummy, and I am building my resistance to temptation muscle to only have one a day.” — Honey Bee

“This cake is delicious. So soft, light, and when it is in the oven baking, it smells like the holidays are already here! Thanks for a great recipe. It was gone within the first day I made it and the second one is in the oven right now.” — Emily

IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 12/21/2025, to include NEW step-by-step photography, make-ahead and storage instructions, what to serve with, variations and mix-ins, and Pro Chef Tips. 

Table of Contents

• What is Traditional Irish Spice Cake?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Why
• How to Make Traditional Irish Spice Cake
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
• What to Serve With 
• Variations & Mix-Ins
• FAQs
• More Cozy Cake Recipes

What is Traditional Irish Spice Cake?

• This spice cake is a traditional Irish dessert. It’s a single-layer tea cake flavored with apple, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Oil-based cakes like this one are known for their moist and tender texture and ability to stay fresh at room temperature for several days. Plus, they’re quick to put together because there’s no need to cream butter.
• Because spices were expensive in Ireland in ancient times, recipes made with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves were reserved for special occasions, like Christmas. Often, they were flavored with dried fruit like raisins or cherries and citrus zest. Spice cakes still carry those traditions of celebration and hospitality.

Tools You Need

• 8-inch square baking pan and parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring jug
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons
• Whisk
• Wire cooling rack
• Sieve

Key Ingredients and Why

• Buttermilk

  • Because buttermilk is acidic, it tenderizes the gluten in the batter, giving this cake a delicate, tender crumb.
  • The acidity in buttermilk works with the baking soda and baking powder to give the cake a light, fluffy rise and a rich and slightly tangy taste.
  • Learn how to make your own buttermilk substitute, and you won’t have to worry about running out!

• Unsweetened applesauce

  • Applesauce moistens the cake and replaces some of the fat needed in the recipe.
  • Even though it’s unsweetened, the natural sweetness of the apples does the job. Also, the apple flavor blends perfectly with the spices.
  • Making homemade applesauce elevates this recipe.

• Vegetable oil

  • Vegetable oil contributes moisture to the cake, giving it a delectable texture.
  • Vegetable oil has more moisture than butter. That makes cakes made with vegetable oil moister and softer than those made with butter.
  • The neutral taste of vegetable oil lets the apple and spice flavors shine.

• Eggs

  • Eggs enrich flavors and provide an emulsifier from the egg yolks to homogeneously bind all the ingredients together.
  • Eggs must always be at room temperature in baking unless specified otherwise. Room-temperature eggs will set this recipe on the right track with a smooth and cohesive cake batter.
  • Learn foolproof ways to get your eggs to room temperature quickly.

• Granulated sugar

  • Sugar sweetens the Irish Spice Cake.
  • Sugar binds easily with water, not only locking in water to make baked goods moist but also inhibiting gluten formation to make the cake soft.

• Brown sugar

  • Dark brown sugar doesn’t only sweeten the cake, but it also adds moisture, caramel and molasses notes, and depth to baked goods.
  • You only need white sugar and molasses to make your own brown sugar!

• All-purpose flour

All-purpose flour has the perfect amount of gluten to support the cake’s structure but still makes it light and fluffy.

• Baking powder and baking soda

  • Baking powder gives the Irish Spice Cake a controlled rise and a consistent structure. It keeps the cake from being heavy and dense.
  • When baking soda is combined with an acidic ingredient like buttermilk in a recipe, it causes a chemical reaction that creates carbon dioxide bubbles that make the cake light and fluffy.
  • Always have baking powder and baking soda on hand when you learn How to Make Baking Powder and Baking Soda!

• Spices

  • Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves blend to give the cake a complex, aromatic, satisfying flavor profile.
  • Cinnamon adds warmth and comfort, ginger adds zip and spice, nutmeg contributes notes of nuttiness and earthiness, and cloves are intensely aromatic and sweet.

• Powdered sugar

  • A sweet and pretty dusting of powdered sugar adds sweetness and visual interest to the cake.
  • No worries if you don’t have powdered sugar on hand. With How to Make Powdered Sugar, you can make a batch and keep it handy in the cupboard.

How to Make Traditional Irish Spice Cake

1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line an 8-inch (20-cm) square pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, applesauce, oil, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.

3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

4. Blend Batter: Add the dry ingredients mixture to the wet and mix until smooth. Pour the batter into your prepared pan.

5. Bake: Bake for 30–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Serve: Serve simply as is or with a dusting of powdered sugar.
8. Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. It also freezes well for up to 8 weeks.

FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW! 

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• Room-Temperature Ingredients: When making cakes, ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before you begin.
• Simple Serving: This spice cake doesn’t need much more than a cup of tea, but you can make it fancy with a half recipe of Cream Cheese Frosting or a drizzle of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce or Spiced Rum Caramel Sauce.
• Dessert Pairings: It’s also excellent with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream or custard sauce.
• Double the Recipe: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch (23×33-cm) pan to feed a crowd. Increase the baking time to 45–50 minutes.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

• Make Ahead for Best Flavor: For the best flavor and texture, make the cake a day in advance. This allows the spices to fully develop and the cake to become even moister.
• Freeze for Longer Storage: Let the cake cool completely, wrap it well, place it in an airtight container or large freezer bag, and freeze for up to four weeks.
• Defrost Properly: Defrost the frozen cake in the fridge overnight before serving.
• Room-Temperature Storage: Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
• Moist Top Tip: For a soft, almost sticky top, cover the cake with foil immediately after baking to trap moisture as it cools.

What to Serve With this Traditional Irish Cake?

• A Cup of Tea: Classic and comforting—perfect for afternoon tea or a cozy treat.
• Coffee or Latte: A warm coffee or spiced latte complements the apple and spice flavors beautifully.
• Whipped Cream or Custard: Adds a creamy richness that pairs perfectly with the moist, spiced crumb.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: A scoop of ice cream turns this simple cake into a delightful dessert.
• Caramel or Spiced Sauces: Drizzle with Apple Cider Caramel Sauce or Spiced Rum Caramel Sauce for extra indulgence.

Variations & Mix-Ins for Irish Spice Cake

• Dried Fruit Variations: Add raisins, sultanas, dried cherries, currants, or chopped dates for natural sweetness and chewy texture.
• Nut Variations: Fold in chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for a crunchy, nutty depth.
• Fresh Fruit Variations: Small diced apples or pears enhance the moist, fruity flavor.
• Citrus Variations: Lemon or orange zest brightens the spices and adds a fresh aroma.
• Chocolate Variations: Dark or milk chocolate chips create pockets of indulgent sweetness.
• Spice Variations: Increase cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves for a bolder, more aromatic cake.

FAQs

• Can I make this cake egg-free?

Yes, you can make this spice cake egg-free. Please take a look at my guide to the 12 Best Egg Substitutes for Baking and How to Use Them for the best options.

• Can I make this cake vegan?

Yes, you can make this cake vegan.

• • Find the best egg substitute in the 12 Best Egg Substitutes for Baking and How to Use Them.
  • Use How to Make Buttermilk Substitute instead of buttermilk. You can use coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk, or any other non-dairy milk of your choice.

More Cozy Cake Recipes

• Apple Snack Cake
• Warm Pear and Honey Cake
• Traditional Irish Barmbrack
• Cranberry Orange Cake with Lemon Glaze
• My Mum’s Irish Apple Cake
• Apple Cider Donut Cake
• Classic Coffee Cake

IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was improved and updated on 12/21/2025, to include NEW step-by-step photography, make-ahead and storage instructions, what to serve with, variations and mix-ins, and Pro Chef Tips. 

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